There seems to be a growing momentum for Florida State to reach bowl eligibility — at least with the national media.
Last week, only USA TODAY had the Seminoles penciled into a bowl contest but after an impressive 38-17 win over Wake Forest, the momentum is growing. This week, we looked at eight different publications and four have FSU bowl bound.
The Seminoles are currently 4-3 and will need two wins in their final five games with four of those coming against teams in the top 25. Three of their remaining opponents are currently ranked in the AP top 10.
Bowl Projections
Athlon Sports, Oct. 23: No bowl.
ESPN, Oct. 21: No bowl.
USA TODAY, Oct. 23: Belk Bowl vs. South Carolina (Dec. 29)
CBS Sports, Oct. 22: No bowl.
Bleacher Report, Oct. 23: Gasparilla Bowl vs. South Florida (Dec. 20)
SB Nation, Oct. 21: No bowl.
Sporting News, Oct. 23: Sun Bowl vs. Colorado (Dec. 31)
Sports Illustrated, Oct. 22: Military Bowl vs. Army (Dec. 31)
Summary
After placing FSU in El Paso last week, USA TODAY now puts the Seminoles in Charlotte for the Belk Bowl. The last time FSU had a first-year head coach, that also ended with a bowl contest against South Carolina. Under Jimbo Fisher, FSU topped the Gamecocks in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl by a 26-17 score.
Bleacher Report has FSU making a short trip to St. Petersburg to face a school making an even shorter trip in South Florida. The Gasparilla Bowl would be the first bowl meeting between Florida State and USF, where FSU head coach Willie Taggart previously coached. The Seminoles are 3-1 all-time against the Bulls.
Sporting News is currently pitting Florida State against Colorado in the Sun Bowl. The Seminoles are 3-0 all-time against the Buffaloes with the most recent contest being a 39-21 showdown in Jacksonville in 2008. FSU hasn’t been to the Sun Bowl since falling to Wyoming to end the 1966 season.
The final prediction comes from Sports Illustrated and has Florida State facing Army in the Military Bowl. That would be the first meeting between the schools and the first trip for the Seminoles to the Military Bowl.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
Phil Kelly/FSU athletics
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